The Islamic Sufi Tradition - the Muslim Approach Towards Peace Building

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Comment by Chaka Ji on February 8, 2009 at 4:23am

Hi Sohail
Thanks for the invitation, here is a copy of the post as you suggested, being in a small village in Bali my internet connection has limits, but I will be back soon

" I think Yoko Ono said "Fear is the opposite of Love" and I agree with you, that from fear comes its neighbour ignorance.

I believe that as an individual, we must first overcome our fear of Death and I'm inclined to think that that is prime generator of all our fears. I'm curious to know what you might think of this idea."

Comment by Gabby Shalala on February 7, 2009 at 1:13pm

Hi Sohail et al, thanks for the invite.
More info on suffism: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tassawwuf

Comment by J.E.Rash -Shaykh Ahmed A Rashid on February 6, 2009 at 2:38am

Thank you Dr. Sohail for the opportunity to try to explain the inexplicable and share the experience of the indescribable.

Bismillah ar Rahman ir Raheem: In the Name of Allah the Most Compassionate and Most Merciful: at your request I am submitting the following very incomplete and hopefully somewhat clear entry.

Sufism also known as Tassawwuf , can be searched on the internet and read about in thousands of texts ancient and modern. Perhaps the easiest way to begin to understand the depth and breadth of Sufism is to look at our own lives. To realize that there is an inner and outer aspect to our life and that every moment of every day we are involved in seeing and hearing and feeling, tasting and thinking interacting with life, with others and with our self. Those interactions are all opportunities to remember our Creator by whatever name we call that Creative force. Allah , God, Truth, Buddha, Lord etc. From the point of view of a sufi, each of those names reflect certain qualities. Allah is the name of the totality of those qualitites and attributes…we say the 99 beautiful names. The Compassionate, the Merciful, The Peace-full, the Patient, the Subtle, the Just etc. Each name is reflected to some degree in the heart and soul of each being and the Source of all these attributes (Allah) is present in our life. Near us, within us, around us yet greater than us , Eternal, Ever Living and without Bounds. That Reality is One and binds us all together like air supports all life, regardless of race or nationality, or creed or gender. That Reality (Allah to the Sufi or Khoda in Persian) is the Essence of all and yet beyond all that can be perceived. The indescribable beauty of life and nature, the majesty of the universe and stars the reflection of those within our own cells and universes within our own bodies and minds. To the Sufi everything praises the Creator…Allah , everything naturally reflects some aspect or name of Allah yet as humans we have choice. The choice to reflect, to remember to come into harmony with the Reality that is sustaining and surrounding us or to remain ignorant and turn away. In the Qur’an one way it is stated is this: ‘Unto Allah belong the East and the West and where ever you turn, there is the countenance of Allah. Lo Allah is All Embracing, All Knowing. “ Sura Baqara (2) ayat 115.
To the Sufi, realizing that one is swimming in the ocean of the Divine Presence and remembering that throughout ones day and night is itself the ultimate act of worship and gratitude.
Sufism, like other paths, is practiced by different people in different ways. Some mostly through acts of worship, prayer, supplication; others through service to others, to society in addition to the worship and supplication, others become abstracted and lost in the ecstasy of recitation, Dhikr (remembrance) movement, song; others remain silent and introspective. All seek the peak of the mountain and the depth of the ocean of Love. My friends soar to the stars and dive to the depths in the ways most appealing to you, but the one requirement is sincerity and the willingness to allow ‘The Changer of Hearts” to change your heart. Read the words of the great Sufis.The Hikam of Ibn ita’Allah Askandari, Ibn Ajiba, the writings of Ibn Mashish, The teachings of the different Orders of sufis…the Shaduliyya, Chistiyya, Naqshbandiyya Qadriyya, Mujjadidiyya, Rafai, and such noble people as ImamAl Ghazzali, Ibn Araby, Ahmed Farouqi Sarhindi, Abdul Qadir Jilani, Shaykh Shuruwadi, Syed ali al Hujweri among many other for the depth of philosophy and/or the poets; Rumi (find a good translation not one that is just an interpretation as the most popular ones are), Attar, Shabastari, Omar Khayyam, Saadi and many others; listen to the poems of Baba Farid or Amir Khusru sung by Qwwallis from India or Pakistan…like the Sabri Brothers, Aziz Mian, or the Salawat of the Ibn Arabi Ensemble , Al Kindi Ensemble or the Debu. Most of all listen to the beautiful recitations of Qur’an available on the net . Most important understand that the sufi is one who seeks harmony, balance, uprightness and humility through worship and study and service and submission to Allah. And one who sees that Allah is Divine Presence, not a person , Divine Love and Peace. So the sufi seeks peace within and strives to manifest it outwardly.
I hope this is a good introduction . May Allah swt forgive my errors . May you all find Sulh and Tasleem. Peace and safety / security in that Divine Presence .
Shaykh Ahmed abdur Rashid

Comment by Ole A. Seifert on February 6, 2009 at 1:54am

I join your group although I am not a muslim. I know a little of Sufi-traditions and also did practice Whirling for a periode back in the 90´-íes. Personally, I have no problem with joining your group as I think the Sufi tradition is an openminded way to think about the divine force, the Light or God/Allah if you prefer.
With love
Ole

Comment by Nicolette on February 5, 2009 at 11:22pm

Since Sohail asked me, I joined the group. I don't know what I can contribute, but I'll listen in.

At least I can say one thing publicly here as a comment. All the muslims I have known were/are very peaceloving and kind and giving. More so than Christians.

This is strange for me to have to say, because I come from a Christian background and have many friends who are fundamentalist Christians. I attended these kinds of churches too for a while, with people who go on mission trips and lead bible studies and everything. I even have a family member who is a missionary.

From personal experience, I don't see any connection between Islam and terrorism. There are people hiding behind religion to make religion seem like the issue, but religion is not the issue. Terrorism is terrorism, plain and simple. And Christians are terrorists too. The KKK is a sad example in the US.

I wouldn't want to be a Tibetan monk or a nun and I don't like meditating, so I'm not sure Sufism is for me. But it's interesting to learn about . Thanks Sohail.

Comment by J.E.Rash -Shaykh Ahmed A Rashid on February 5, 2009 at 9:02pm

Asalaam alaykum
Sufism has many faces but one heart, grounded in Al Qur'an and the love of Rasulullah (sal) (Prohet Muhammad). Today when there is so much confusion about Islam, Muslims, extremeism attention is once again turning toward Sufism. Those of us who have lived and worked all over the world and based our work on basic Islamic/Sufic principles and teachings see the relevance of these teachings, methods, attitudes as imperative for creating and Sustaining Peace. You can see the example of practical work of a secular organization that addresses the critical issues of today's world and do it based on the Universal Values prescribed in encouraged in Islam and the Abrahamic traditions (as well as other traditions) and staffed predominately by Muslims who practice Sufism at www.legacyintl.org.And you can see the underlying spiritual teachings of a practical group of Sufis who address , one of the oldest Sufic Communities in the USA at www.circlegroup.org. To begin to grasp that Sufism is both an inner and outer approach to life through Islam is a critical component in understanding its role in Peace, conflict prevention or what I call pre-emptive peace-making. Many talks, cultural presentations, books can be found on-line and a Google rss on Sufism gives a panoply of daily pro and con articles. Google video and You Tube have hours of postings. I am glad Sohail has begun this interaction and pray that Allah swt gives him support for this noble effort.
Allah hafiz
wa-s-salaam
Shaykh Ahmed abdur Rashid

Comment by Humanity Healing Foundation on February 5, 2009 at 8:11pm

“I BELIEVE that while governments make treaties, individuals make Peace.”
~ Christopher Buck

Our friend request here on Ning does not seem to be working well. If you haven’t seen one from us, please send us one! :-)

Much Metta,
Humanity Healing Team

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